The Hurry Up is your nightly dose of updates from the Ohio State football recruiting trail, keeping tabs on the latest from commits and targets from around the country.
JP Andrade Waiting for the Next Move
With the news of Matthew Baldwin’s intent to transfer, 2019 California quarterback JP Andrade’s name jumped to the forefront of Ohio State’s recruiting efforts. Rated as the No. 57 pro-style quarterback in his class, Andrade remains unsigned but has made his way to Ohio State twice recently, one of those visits being the spring game April 13.
“The coaching staff showed me nothing but love, and I was blown away by everything about the facilities, practice and how the atmosphere is at Ohio State,” Andrade said.
Andrade has scholarship offers from just three schools – Fordham, Morehead State and South Alabama – and he’s been offered as a preferred walk-on by Florida, just as he would be if Ohio State were to ask him to join the program.
While head coach Ryan Day’s philosophy of maintaining four quarterbacks on a roster demands that Ohio State find an answer for Baldwin’s replacement quickly, Andrade would be an option that would also provide longevity.
Whether Ohio State would be comfortable adding a player that would eventually require a scholarship to likely see the field on rare occasions and would still be a year older than incoming 2020 four-star quarterback Jack Miller is what might be holding up the Buckeyes from offering Andrade as a preferred walk-on.
But Andrade said no one from the Ohio State staff has discussed the future of the position or where he might fit into that future with the 2019 prospect.
“I’m in contact with (quarterbacks coach Mike) Yurcich, but he has not told me anything yet,” Andrade said. “Just waiting and praying for the best situation.”
JP Andrade was a late addition to the World Bowl in Mexico. The 2019 QB threw the only TD pass for the West on a strike to Josh Delgado after memorizing the 30 page playbook on the flight. No wonder he was one of the nation's leading passers this yr. S-L-E-E-P-E-R pic.twitter.com/00HXpa0Doq
— Football Recruit. (@FootballRecruit) December 28, 2018
Serving as a backup in the beginning of his career, as most quarterbacks do, doesn’t bother Andrade, he said, and he is willing to wait for a time when he might be asked to go onto the field. When asked if he would sacrifice starting at a non-Power Five school to sit for some time at a Power Five school, Andrade said “yes.”
“Most definitely,” Andrade said. “To be great, it takes time. And I’m a young senior. I’m still only 17, so I need that time to grow and mature.”
Andrade started three seasons at quarterback for Bonita High School, where he rewrote the school’s passing records book with 9,423 yards and 83 touchdowns.
“People would think I’m frustrated, but to be honest, I’ve been working hard since the season ended, and I feel confident in myself and wherever I end up,” Andrade said. “So I’m at peace with where I’m at and just waiting for the next move.”
Gunnar Hoak Enters the NCAA Transfer Portal
This news slipped through yesterday’s Hurry Up, but with two years of eligibility remaining, Kentucky quarterback Gunnar Hoak announced that he will be entering his name into the NCAA transfer portal. He made the announcement Monday night via Twitter.
— Gunnar Hoak (@GunnarHoak12) April 23, 2019
This news is significant to Ohio State fans because with Matthew Baldwin entering his name in the transfer portal as well means that the Buckeyes have three quarterbacks on the roster with grad transfer Chris Chugunov as the next in line if Justin Fields needs to exit a game.
Hoak grew up in Dublin, attending Dublin Coffman High School and wanting to play for Ohio State, but the No. 40 2016 quarterback never got a Buckeye offer. Now could be his chance to play for Ohio State if both parties agree, but he would likely be serving solely as a backup behind Fields.
Whether Hoak would want to play for a school in yet another backup role is an answer that only he knows at this point, but if he were needed in place of Fields for any reason, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback might be able to hold his own.
He saw his first action in his sophomore season in 2018, when he made 26 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. The toughest team he took snaps against, though, was Tennessee. He made four pass attempts in the game. He’s also made passes against Missouri (8), Murray State (5) and Central Michigan (9). That’s less experience than Chugunov, who’s played full games against Texas, Oklahoma and Utah, and whether Ohio State is comfortable with that could also decide whether the two come together.
Muhsin Muhammad III, Demeioun Robinson Earn OSU Offers
Ohio State extended an offer to a name many football fans will recognize. North Carolina wideout Muhsin Muhammad III was offered by the Buckeyes on Tuesday.
Muhammad is the son of Muhsin Muhammad II, who played 14 seasons in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears and was named to two Pro Bowls.
The 2020 wide receiver is rated as the No. 27 receiver in the class and the No. 145 player overall and plays for Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, the same place as 2021 standout quarterback Drake Maye.
Muhammad’s father played at Michigan State, where Muhammad is giving a lot of his interest, but the 2020 receiver also has offers from North Carolina State, North Carolina, Tennessee and Nebraska, which are all sitting well with the wideout.
Maryland 2021 linebacker Demeioun Robinson earned his fifth offer on Wednesday, and it was from Ohio State The No. 12 2021 outside linebacker also has offers from Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Rutgers and Massachusetts.
At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, it will be difficult to find a high school sophomore with that much size, and what makes Robinson appealing as a prospect is how he uses that size. He plays a hybrid role between linebacker and defensive end, and between a standing and 3-point stance, Robinson still makes a considerable impact.
His offers list will certainly expand, especially after having received an Ohio State offer.
Blake Fisher Gets A 'Bama Offer
Indiana offensive tackle Blake Fisher was recently rated as the No. 2 Indiana prospect by 247Sports, behind linebacker Yanni Karlaftis. Despite the lack of highly rated Indiana prospects in the 2021 class – Karlaftis (No. 67 overall) and Fisher (No. 87) are followed by offensive tackle Luke Collinsworth at No. 264. – The top two recruits are bringing in plenty of offers.
Karlaftis has offers from Michigan, Michigan State and Notre Dame, while Fisher has Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Florida State and Auburn. They both have Ohio State offers.
Fisher added yet another big offer on Tuesday, this one coming from Alabama.
Fisher was at The Opening in Massillon and stood out as the best 2021 offensive lineman at the showcase. He had a visit scheduled for Ohio State in the beginning of April but needed to cancel for family concerns and is currently re-scheduling.
